Drive or Fly: Irving, TX to Mercedes, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Could go either way

Medium

This distance is a toss-up. Drive if you want flexibility and lower cost, fly if you value time. Connecting flights add time.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 26m

Distance

540.4 mi

Total Cost

$137

CO2

218 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$102

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 32m

56m in the air

Air Distance

464 mi

Total Cost

$194

CO2

118 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Irving, TX → DAL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 56m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HRL → Mercedes, TX 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $139) $139

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Irving, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

Mercedes, TX HRL — Valley International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 5h 54m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	9h 26m	3h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$137	$194
Carbon footprint	218 kg CO₂	118 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 20, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Irving, TX to Mercedes, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.